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Why Vijender’s Happy to Call Ireland Home

May 24, 2016

Thinking of moving to Ireland? In the case of Vijender, it was a friend at university who encouraged him to come here. The 33-year-old Quality Assurance Engineer made the move eight years ago and hasn’t looked back since. Not only does living in Ireland offer a lifestyle he enjoys, it’s the perfect place for those with a passion for technology – with a wealth of opportunities in the tech sector. Vijender says: “One of the things that I like most about living here is the abundance of opportunities in tech. I feel like I’m in the right place at the right time.”

Technology Hub

With a passion for technology and innovation, Vijender says that Ireland is a good place to be. He explains: “Ireland is the technology hub of Europe so there’s always something happening. Enterprise Ireland is a good resource and helpful to access.” He also values the close-knit nature of the tech scene here. He says: “You could say that Ireland is a bit like Silicon Valley in terms of opportunities and networking but less daunting as it’s a smaller community. There’s a lively technology community here and it’s easy to meet like-minded people who share a passion for tech. I frequently attend tech workshops or seminars at the weekends.”

Job Opportunities in Dublin

Part of the team at Realex Payments, Vijender took the time to get to know the culture as he developed his career and up-skilled. He says: “I’ve been here for eight years. Originally, I came to study on the recommendation of a friend from the University of Osmania in Hyderabad. He told me about the great job opportunities available and put me in touch with other Indian people, who I stayed with when I first arrived.” He adds: “I began studying for an MSc in computer science at Griffith College in Dublin, which took a year and a half. I got a part-time job in a pharmacy to help with my bills and that was a great way to get to know the culture. People want to talk to you in a pharmacy setting so I had plenty of interaction with Irish people. I found everyone friendly and welcoming.”

An Open Work Environment

Now firmly part of the team in the Dublin offices, Vijender says: “I’ve been in the role of Quality Assurance Engineer for the last 15 months and I’m very happy. My job is to test software that the company develops to process credit cards for large companies.” A diverse role, the job involves working on multiple new projects. “It’s a good job. It’s challenging but I’m never bored as we get to work on different projects every couple of weeks,” he adds. “What’s more, I like the working environment. My managers listen to what I have to say and are open to suggestions about new ways of doing things. They’re encouraging too.”

Work/Life Balance

Along with his wife, Padma, the couple make the most of their downtime. With similar roles in IT, he explains: “I think the work/life balance in Ireland is a lot better than in India. I work from 8.30am to 5pm most days. In India, the hours are longer. When I’m not working, we spend time together. We’ve been married for six years and have one son – Ronan.”

“It's easy to meet like-minded people who share a passion for tech. ”

Learn more about the Irish tech industry

Want to find your place in Ireland’s tech industry? You’ve come to the right place. Visit our Tech in Ireland section to see which tech companies have made Ireland their home. You can also follow us on Twitter at @TechLifeIreland.